Shipping container



.March 17, 1970 F. T, GORMAN l i 3,500,995

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 28, 1968 United States Patent O 3,500,996SHIPPING CONTAINER Francis T. Gorman, Lomita, Calif., assigner to theUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of the AirForce l Filed Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 771,100 Int. Cl. B65d 81 /06 U.S.Cl. 206-46 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container assembly forshipping, particularly by aircraft, a fragile or hazardous item, such asa chemical or a biological weapon. The container assembly includes: apad of polyurethane material, having an outer lining of ablativematerial, in which is wrapped the item to be shipped; mating upper andlower cradle sections of balsa wood to hold and support the wrappeditem; a stainless steel right circular cylinder open at one end to housethe cradle sections and the wrapped item; a round stainless steel plateafxable to, removable from, and abutting with the periphery of the openend of the cylinder; mating upper and lower overpack sections of highenergy-absorbing properties and low thermal conductivity, such as balsawood, to house the cylinder; an energy-absorbing section, forward of theoverpack sections and abutting the closed end of the cylinder, having analuminum honeycomb core between a forward plate of steel and a backplate of aluminum; and a plywood case to house all of the foregoing.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a containerassembly for shipping or transporting, particularly by aircraft, fragileor hazardous items or materials, such as munitions or contaminants,particularly chemical or biological weapons.

It is obvious that the aerial transportation of munitions orcontaminants constitutes a hazard to public safety in the event of acrash. Indeed, if the shipment is that of chemical or biologicalweapons, the crash of the aircraft carrying such a load could result ina disaster of catastrophic proportions. However, in the interest ofnational security, and particularly when time is of the essence, theFederal Government has no alternative but to transport hazardous items,such as those mentioned, by aircraft. As a result, there is a criticalneed to eliminate, or at least to minimize, the danger inherent in suchtransportation.

My invention advances the stateof-the-art by providing a solution tothis serious problem.

In essence, I have invented a leak-proof shipping container capable ofwithstanding the crash of the aircraft carrying it.

Although reference has been made to the use of my invention in theweapon-transporting art, it is to be noted that such reference is by wayof illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Obviously, myinvention may be used in any art where the shipping or transporting ofany fragile or hazardous items or materials is involved; and, myinvention may be used irrespective of whether the shipment is by air, onland, or on the seas. Further, obviously, the item to be shipped neednot be either fragile or hazardous. Additionally, of course, the item,whether fragile, hazardous, both or nei-ther, need not be shipped, i.e.,it may be stored in the container.

Summary of the invention My invention relates to a shipping containerassembly which is particularly well-suited for the transporting ofmunitions and contaminants by aircraft.

Thus, an object of this invention is to provide a shockresistant,lealcproof container for shipping munitions, contaminants, and the like.

3,500,996 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 ICC Obviously, another object of thisinvention is to prevent the activation of explosives, the leakage ofcontaminating materials, and similar reactions, as the result of thecrash of the aircraft carrying the explosive, the contaminant, or thelike.

Still another object is to provide the desired degree of shippingprotection, e.g., shock-resistance and leak-resistance, easily and atlow cost.

These, and still other, objects of my invention will become readilyapparent after a consideration of the description of my invention andreference to the drawings.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectionalview, in schematic form, of a preferred embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation view, schematic in form andpartly in perspective of some of the major components of the preferredembodiment depicted in FIG- URE 1, showing their relative position.

Description of lthe preferred embodiment With reference to FIGURES l and2, wherein the same components are similarly numbered, shippingcontainer assembly 10, FIGURES 1 and 2, includes a mat or pad ofprotective material 11, FIGURE 1, such as polyurethane, having an outerlining 12, FIGURE 1, of ablative material. The hazardous or fragile item30, FIGURE 1, is wrapped within pad 11.

An upper cradle 13A, FIGURE 1, and a lower cradle 13B, FIGURE 1, whichhold and support the item to be shipped 30, FIGURE l, and its wrapping11 and 12, FIG- URE 1, are made preferably of balsa wood, because of itshigh energy-absorbing properties, low thermal conductivity, lightweight,relative ease of working, and ready availability.

Cylinder 14, FIGURES 1 and 2, is preferably in the form of a rightcircular one which is closed, Hat-ended, at the forward end, i.e., tofthe readers left. As a pertinent and related matter, it is here notedthat the directional designations, such as forward or front and the likeare intended to mean to the readers left, and backward or back and thelike are intended to mean to the readers right, as indicated by thearrow in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2.

Cylinder 14, FIGURES 1 and 2, is closeable, at the open back end, byafxing end plate 15, FIGURES 1 and 2, by suitable means, to theperiphery of said open back end of cylinder 14. End plate 1-5 isremovably affixed. A suitable means of accomplishing this removableaflixability is by Hanging the open back end of cylinder 14 andconnecting end plate 15 to the ange (not shown) with a plurality ofbolts.

Both cylinder 14 and end plate 15 are of stainless steel, preferably ofthe 321 type, i.e., American Iron and Steel Institute numericaldesignation 321, comprising .08% carbon, l7-l9% chromium, and 9-12%nickel.

Mating upper overpack 16A, FIGURE 1, and lower overpack 16B, FIGURES 1and 2, are, preferably, of balsa wood and house cylinder 14 and itscontents, except for the forward closed end of cylinder 15. That end ofcylinder 15 abuts the back of an energy-absorbing secrtion, forward ofoverpacks 16A and 16B, having an aluminum honeycomb core 17, FIGURES 1and 2, disposed between a forward plate 18, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferablyof steel, and a back plate 19, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of aluminum.

A container, preferably a plywood case 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, is used tohouse all of the other components of the container assembly 10, and theitem to be shipped 30. By plywood case applicant means a box, i.e., arectangular receptacle having a at bottom and four upright tides, with acover, both box and cover being made of ilywood.

Mode of operation of the preferred embodiment When a fragile orhazardous item, such as 30, FIGURE l, is to be shipped by aircraft, theitem 30 is wrapped in nat or pad 11, FIGURE 1, having an outer lining12, FIGURE 1, of an ablative material. Mat or pad 11, prefrably ofpolyurethane, provides a uniform bearing surface for item 30 to restupon, helping to eliminate areas )f high stress concentration, inaddition to its primary isc as a protective wrap.

The Wrapped item 30 is then placed or installed in balsa wood lowercradle 13B, FIGURE 1; and balsa wood ipper cradle 13A, FIGURE 1, isplaced on top of item S and lower cradle 13B, mating with said lowercradle l3B. In an oversimpliied sense, cradles 13A and 13B may Jeconsidered a longitudinally cut balsa wood log hollowed out to acceptthe item 30 to be shipped. These :radles 13A and 13B provide transversesupport and positioning for item 30; and, should there be a crash, these:radles 13A and 13B absorb much of the energy of fragnents, if any,which are torn loose from item 30. As a related matter, it is noted thatmat or pad 11 with outer lining 12 obviates close tolerance requirementsof the :radles 13A and 13B, further simplifying cradle fabrica- ;iontechniques.

Cradles 13A and 13B containing item 30 and padding l1 are placed intocylinder 14 through the open back end )f said cylinder 14. End plate 15,FIGURES 1 and 2, is 'emovably affixed to the periphery of said open backend )f cylinder 14 with bolts; and, by suitable sealing means, ;hemating periphery of the cylinder 14 and end plate 15 s made leak-proof.

With regard to said suitable sealing means, one Such preferred meanscomprises, in actuality, a double seal, i.e., 1 primary seal of anO-ring in a narrow groove between the end plate 15 and annular peripheryof the open back and of cylinder 14, and a second seal of injectedplastic sealing compound in a narrow groove around the bolt line.

Cylinder 14 with afxed end plate 15, now forming as a. unit a closedcylinder, is placed on the lower overpack l6B, FIGURES l and 2; andupper overpack 16A, FIG- URE 1, is placed thereon, mating with cylinder14 and lower overpack 16B. In effect, overpacks 16A and 16B are natingportions of a balsa wood 4box hollowed out to it :he cylinder. As can beseen from viewing FIGURES 1 and 2, the forward end of cylinder 14 is notwithin overnacks 16A and 16B. That end of cylinder 14 abuts the back ofan energy-absorbing section, forward of overpacks 16A and 16B, having analuminum honeycomb core 17, FIGURES 1 and 2, disposed between a forwardplate l8, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of steel and a back plate 19,FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably of aluminum. In summary, the forward end ofcylinder 14 abuts the rear 3f aluminum back plate 19.

Upon longitudinal impact of the container assembly 10, such as in anaircraft crash, steel cylinder 14 moves forward, crushes aluminum backplate 19 and in turn, back plate 19 crushes into honeycomb core 17, thusreducing the acceleration loads on the hazardous item being shipped.Additionally, the forward energy-absorbing section as a whole providesgreat integrity in the event of a :rash and resultant impingement ofhigh-speed or massive fragments on the interior surface of the containerassembly. Further, aluminum back plate 19 insures that the aluminumhoneycomb core 17 is not affected by local eccentric external loads, andits inertia insures a translatory application of the impact load tocylinder 14.

A container 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, preferably a plywood case, houses allof the other components of the container assembly 10, and the hazardousitem 30 to be shipped.

While there has been shown and described the fundamental features of myinvention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understoodthat various substitutions and omissions may be made by those skilled inthe art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forexample: (a) Although reference has been made, in describing thepreferred embodiment, to a right circular cylinder 14 which is closedflat-end at the forward end, other alternative end configurations can beused, including hemispherical and conical shapes; (b) There are a numberof .suitable means, other than the means mentioned, of affixing andsealing end plate 15 to cylinder 14 to render said cylinder 14leak-proof, such as welding said end plate 15 to said cylinder 14; and(c) To insure transport flexibility the base of external container canbe modified to include the features of a pallet for use withcargo-handling systems.

What I claim is:

1. A container assembly for enclosing an item, comprising:

(a) a polyurethane pad for wrapping the item to be enclosed in thecontainer assembly, with the item being wrapped in said pad, with saidpad having an outer lining of ablative material;

(b) means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein saidmeans includes mating upper and lower cradles of balsa wood;

(c) means for housing the wrapped item and for housing said means forholding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes:

(l) a stainless steel right circular cylinder closed at one end and openat the other end;

(2) and, a stainless steel end plate removably affixed to said stainlesssteel right circular cylinder;

(d) means for housing said means for housing the wrapped item and forhousing said means for holding and supporting the wrapped item, whereinsaid means includes mating upper and lower overpacks of balsa wood;

(e) means for absorbing energy, forward of said means for housing saidmeans for housing the wrapped item and for housing said means forholding and supporting the wrapped item, wherein said means includes:

(l) a forward plate of steel;

(2) a back plate of aluminum;

(3) and, an aluminum honeycomb core, disposed Vbetween said steel plateand said aluminum plate; and

(f) a completely closeable container for housing all said means, thesaid polyurethane pad wrapping pad with outer lining of ablativematerial, and the wrapped item, wherein said container is a plywood boxwith a plywood cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,767 1/1960 Simon et al206-46 1,791,367 2/1931 McVay et al. 229-14 2,460,797 2/ 1949 Allington206-46 2,516,124 7/1950 Kishibay 206-46 2,523,145 9/1950 Robinson229--14 2,761,553 9/1956 Wheeler 206-46 2,971,640 2/1961 Snelling 206-463,112,043 ll/ 1963 Tucker 220-15 3,286,825 11/1966 Laas 206-46 WILLIAMT. DIXSON, J R., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

